Hoe.



E. F. ROWLEY.

HOE.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 15, 1912.

Patented Oct. 14, 1913.

2 SHEBTSSH-EET l. I

nob dot May Ernest E. P. ROWLBY.

HOB

APPLICATION FILED 001215, 1912.

Patented 001114, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

i vwemto'o EmeMFEm/Zey 5W4;

wi/llzoowo TJNTTE TATF AENT FTQ iii ERNEST F. ROWLEY, OF BIRMINGHAIi/I, ALABAlVLA.

HOE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST F. RowLnY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hoes, and it has for its object to produce at a moderate cost a hoe which will be in every respect strong, serviceable and useful.

A. further object of the invention is to produce from comparatively inexpensive stock a hoe which is so reinforced at points most subject to strain as to be equal in work ing and wearing qualities to hoes of a more expensive construction.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings have been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the hoe blade is made. Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the blank as it appears after being stamped to corrugate and reinforce the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the blank after be ing trimmed. Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a blank from which the shank and reinforcement is made. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the shank blank after being stamped to corrugate and reinforce the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the shank blank after trimming. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the shank blank after preliminary bending. Fig. 8 is a perspective rear view showing the blade and the shank assembled. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 99 in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 1010 in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a top plan view of a complete hoe showing a portion of the handle inserted in the socket. Fig. 12 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. 10, and showing a slight modification.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1912.

Patented Get. 14,1913.

Serial No. 725,895.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The blade blank A which is of rectangular shape may be cut from a strip or ribbon of comparatively inexpensive stock, the same being ordinary sheet steel which may be rolled to the requisite width so as to avoid waste in cutting. Said blank is provided, by stamping or pressing between suitable dies with a corrugation which may be in the form of an inverted V, as shown in the drawings, the stem of the Y extending downwardly from the top edge of the blank midway between the side edges thereof. Within the scope of the invention, however, a plurality of rays or prongs in excess of two may be made to diverge from the stem, which latter is designated by 1 and the rays or prongs by 2. After corrugating, the blank A is trimmed, an operation which is likewise performed by means of suitable dies, whereby material is cut away to produce notches 3 and rounded corners 4 adjacent to the stem 1 of the corrugation; the outer upper corners of the blank are likewise trimmed and rounded, as shown at 5.

The blank B from which the shank or socket of the hoe is made is cut from the same strip of stock from which the blank A is cut, or from a strip of similar width and quality, said blank being of rectangular shape and of suitable dimensions. The blank B is provided, by pressing or stamping the same with a corrugation similar to that of the blank A consisting of a stem 1 having divergent rays 2. The blank B is now trimmed by cutting away the non-corrugated portion of the blank with the exception of the wings 6 adjacent to the sides of the stem 1, said wings being formed of suitable dimensions to subsequently constitute the shank or socket. By a subsequent operation the said wings are bent upward with respect to the corrugated portion of the blank until they occupy a position approximately at right angles to each other. By the same operation the said wings are curved transversely, making each wing of approximately semi-circular cross section, and this operation being performed by suitable dies and while the stock is in a heated state, the metal will flow on the lines of bending to produce a rounded and finished appearance, as will be clearly seen in Fig. 7

The shank blank is now assembled with the blade blank by fitting the corrugated portions together, the corrugated portion of the shank blank being preferably disposed in front of the blade, although, within the scope of the invention, it may be placed in rear of the blade, as seen in Fig. 12. When the corrugated portion of the shank blank is positioned in front of the blade, the metal joining the wings 6 with the corrugated stem portion 1 will be accommodated in the notches 3 adjacent to the corrugated stem portion 1 of the blade blank. The contacting corrugated face portions of the shank blank and the blade blank are now intimately connected together by a well known electrical welding process, and the hoe is now ready to be mounted on a handle 7 which is done by inserting one end of the handle between the wings 7, compressing said wings on the handle and securing the same by fastening members, such as rivets 8 extending transversely therethrough. Suitable tempering of the hoe blade may be effected at any convenient stage of its manufacture.

If desired, the blade blank may be trimmed by removing the upper portions thereof lying adjacent to the corrugated stem 1, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings As this method would involve an unnecessary waste of material, it is, however, not likely to be resorted to. I would also have it understood that within the scope of the invention the blade blank and the shank blank may be made of different grades of material.

Under the invention as herein described 1 am enabled to manufacture the hoe blade of relatively light and inexpensive material, the blade being reinforced and stiffened, not only by the corrugation in the blade itself, but by the shank blank which particularly reinforces that portion which connects the blade with the socket, that is to say, the neck or shank portion formed by the corrugated stems 1 and 1. This portion being not only of double thickness, but transversely corrugated, will be particularly fitted to resist wear and strain.

The process of manufacture of the improved hoe is simple, and it may be con veniently and inexpensively carried out.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. In a hoe, a corrugated stem, and rays diverging therefrom, said stem and rays being positioned below the upper edge of the blade, and the blade being provided with notches adjacent to the corrugated stem.

2. In a hoe, a blade having a corrugated reinforcement including a stem, and rays diverging therefrom, and a shank member including a similarly corrugated portion positioned adjacent to and welded upon the blade.

3. In a hoe, a blade having a corrugated reinforcement including a stem and rays diverging therefrom, said blade being trimmed to form notches adjacent to the corrugated stem, and a shank member having a similarly corrugated portion positioned adjacent to and welded upon the blade, said shank portion being provided with socket forming wings engaging the notches of the blade.

4. A hoe composed of two separate pieces, namely, a blade member and a shank member. said blade member having a corrugated reinforcement forming a stem and a plurality of rays diverging therefrom adjacent to the upper edge thereof, and said shank member having a similarly corrugated portion p0- sitioned adjacent to and welded upon the blade member, said shank member being also provided with wings bent rearwardly and curved transversely to form a handle receiving socket. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST F. ROWLEY.

WVitnesses lVM. BAGenR, H. I-Iouerr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). C. 

